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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Roy Williams said he'd given little thought to the reception he might get here, just 20 minutes away from the school and basketball program he left 10 years ago. Thursday, at least, Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Roy Williams said he'd given little thought to the reception he might get here, just 20 minutes away from the school and basketball program he left 10 years ago.

Thursday, at least, Kansas City made nice.

A Sprint Center crowd of perhaps 2,500 on hand for North Carolina's afternoon NCAA tournament practice greeted the introduction of the Tar Heels' Hall of Fame coach with warm applause, then cheered again as he waved and walked to the edge of the court in front of them.

Folks were less cordial in 2003, when Williams departed Kansas after 15 seasons, 418 wins, four Final Four appearances and two berths in the NCAA championship game. He returned to Carolina, where he'd been a longtime assistant to Dean Smith before Kansas gave him his head coaching break.

"The University of Kansas and Lawrence was a great 15 years of my life," Williams said before Thursday's light practice. "I've said it this way before: I gave my heart, body and soul for 15 years, and I loved it.

"It's not immoral to love two institutions. When I was a coach at Kansas, it was my favorite school. North Carolina was my second-favorite school. I happen to be coaching at North Carolina now, and it's my favorite school, and Kansas is my second-favorite school."

Eighth-seeded North Carolina meets No. 9 Villanova in a South Regional game Friday night. Win, and the Sprint Center reception might change. Williams and the Tar Heels likely would move into a Sunday matchup with top-seeded Kansas.

They've crossed paths in a game twice since Williams left Kansas — first when the Jayhawks stunned North Carolina 84-66 in the Final Four in San Antonio en route to winning the national championship in 2008. Williams took some heat two nights later, prominently sporting a Jayhawks sticker as they played and beat Memphis.

A year ago, Kansas rolled past North Carolina 80-67 en route to the Final Four and ultimately the tournament championship game against Kentucky.

"I realize some people were upset when I left. Hopefully, time is going to cure a lot of those problems," Williams said. "College basketball, we've got enough to worry about without worrying about whether they're going to clap or boo when I come out."

A Michigan Wolverines cheerleader performs during the first half of the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four against the Louisville Cardinals at the Georgia Dome. (Photo: Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)

Louisville Cardinals majorettes perform during halftime against the Michigan Wolverines in the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four at the Georgia Dome. (Photo: Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports)

Louisville Cardinals cheerleaders prior to the start of the game against the Wichita State Shockers in the semifinals during the Final Four at the Georgia Dome. (Photo: Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports)

Michigan Wolverines cheerleaders perform during a time-out in the first half against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA tournament at Cowboys Stadium. (Photo: Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)

A Florida Gators cheerleader performs in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines during the South Regional final of the 2013 NCAA tournament at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo: Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)

The Indiana Hoosiers perform during the first half of the semifinals of the East regional of the 2013 NCAA Tournament against the Syracuse Orange at the Verizon Center. (Photo: Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)

La Salle Explorers cheerleaders perform before the first half of the semifinals of the West regional of the 2013 NCAA tournament against the Wichita State Shockers at the Staples. (Photo: Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports)

La Salle Explorers cheerleaders entertain the crowd in the first half of the game against the Mississippi Rebels during the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at the Sprint Center. La Salle won 76-74. (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

Mississippi Rebels cheerleaders entertain the crowd during a timeout in the first half of the game against the La Salle Explorers during the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at the Sprint Center. La Salle won 76-74. (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

Syracuse Orange cheerleaders perform against the California Golden Bears during the first half of the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at HP Pavilion. (Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports)

A cheerleader for the Virginia Commonwealth Rams perfoms in the first half of the team's third-round game against the Michigan Wolverines at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)

An Indiana Hoosiers cheerleader performs during the team's second-round game with the James Madison Dukes at University of Dayton Arena. Indiana defeated James Madison 83-62. (Photo: Frank Victores, USA TODAY Sports)

A Kansas State Wildcats cheerleader performs for the crowd before their second-round game against the La Salle Explorers at the Sprint Center. La Salle won 63-61. (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

La Salle Explorers cheerleaders perform for the crowd during a timeout in the first half of Friday's second -round game against the Kansas State Wildcats at the Sprint Center. La Salle won 63-61. (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

Cincinnati Bearcats cheerleaders perform during the second half of their second-round game against the Creighton Bluejays at the Wells Fargo Center. Creighton defeated Cincinnati 67-63. (Photo: Howard Smith, USA TODAY Sports)

A Creighton Bluejays cheerleader performs on the court while the Bluejays take on the Cincinnati Bearcats in a second-round match-up at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Rob Carr, Getty Images)

A Duke Blue Devils cheerleader performs in the first half of Duke's second-round match-up with the Albany Great Danes at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Rob Carr, Getty Images)

A Wisconsin Badgers cheerleader entertains the crowd during a timeout in the first half of their second-round game against the Mississippi Rebel at the Sprint Center. (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

A Mississippi Rebels dance team member performs during a second-round game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Sprint Center. Mississippi defeated Wisconsin 57-46. (Photo: Peter G. Aiken, USA TODAY Sports)

A Colorado State Rams cheerleader performs in the second half of the Rams' second-round game against the Missouri Tigers at Rupp Arena on Thursday. Colorado State defeated 84-72. (Photo: Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports)

South Dakota State Jackrabbits cheerleaders cheer on team in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines during the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at The Palace. (Photo: Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports)

Michigan Wolverines cheerleaders cheer on the team against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits during the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at The Palace. (Photo: Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports)

A North Carolina A&T Aggies cheerleader in the first half of the game against the Louisville Cardinals during the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at Rupp Arena. Marquette defeated Davidson 59-58. (Photo: Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports)

Arizona Wildcats cheerleaders perform in the second half of the game against the Belmont Bruins during the second round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena. (Photo: Steve Dykes, USA TODAY Sports)